Blood cells from 80-year-old donor become stem cells with molecular age under 20

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into stem cells, effectively resetting their molecular age. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters
This scientific advancement offers potential new pathways for regenerative medicine and understanding the aging process at a cellular level.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Neurons generated through the differentiation of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) derived from blood. Credit: Brüstle Research Group / University of Bonn Researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn have succeeded in dramatically rejuvenating human cells in a test tube. To do so, they directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into stem cells from which neurons can be derived. During this process, the molecular clocks that indicate a cell's age were reset. For example, blood cells from an 80-year-old were transformed into stem cells with a molecular age of less than 20 years.
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